Harvesting energy from friction: the revolutionary decade of triboelectric nanogenerators
Abstract: Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have rapidly developed into a transformative energy harvesting technology, enabling self-powered, sustainable electronic systems. This review offers the first comprehensive, multidisciplinary perspective that connects the physics of triboelectric charge transfer with material innovation, device engineering, and real-world applications. We systematically categorize and measure the triboelectric series across a wide range of materials, including polymers, 2D materials, MOFs, perovskites, cellulose, and biodegradable frameworks, using experimentally validated methods. In addition to traditional approaches, this work highlights emerging strategies such as machine learning-guided material discovery, 3D printing, and advanced structural engineering to improve charge retention, durability, and power output. Unlike existing reviews, it uniquely combines theory and application insights, presents diverse uses from biomedical sensing and environmental monitoring to underwater communication and mechanoluminescence, and outlines a forward-looking plan for sustainable energy harvesting. This comprehensive synthesis serves as an essential resource for researchers and technologists designing next-generation TENGs and multifunctional self-powered devices.
Authors
- Mohamed Ahmed Belal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6903-0820)
- Sai Kishore Ravi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9785-3215)
- Reddicherla Umapathi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8071-5345)
- Ana Borrás (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8799-2054)
- Thitirat Charoonsuk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9027-9556)
- Saichon Sriphan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5893-6093)
- Jakub Jała (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9028-7508)
- Moein Safarkhani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7062-073X)
- Swati Panda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4367-6452)
- Stephen J. Eichhorn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4101-273X)
- Krystian Mistewicz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6065-4175)
- Hamideh Khanbareh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6055-4943)
- Monica F. Craciun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4824-8094)
- Gokana Mohana Rani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5096-8819)
- Jiaqian Qin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9166-3533)
- Yogendra Kumar Mishra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8786-9379)
- D. Haranath (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7936-6165)
- A. Smalcerz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0957-1291)
- Bartłomiej Nowacki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7760-0632)
- Hoe Joon Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1180-7830)
- Kushal Ruthvik Kaja (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7230-4925)
- R. Rakesh Kumar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4023-9051)
- Naratip Vittayakorn
- Hanseung Kim
- Uday Kumar Khanapurarm (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1297-4104)
- Pannur Jaahnavi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3549-0956)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Powder Materials
- Published
- 2025-11-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmate.2025.100373
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.04